Filming Locations:

Company:

Did You Know?

Trivia:

With the exception of the Russian version, Piter Pen (1987) (TV), this is the first live action adaptation of J.M. Barrie's story to feature a male in the role of Peter.See more »

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Flipped shot in the nursery when Peter is standing at the foot of Wendy's bed. The strap of his outfit changes from his left shoulder to his right shoulder and then back again.See more »

Quotes:

Wendy:We must leave at once... before we, in turn, are forgotten.See more »

Remember Betty Bronson and Ernest Torrence as both Peter Pan and Captain
Hook respectively? Doubt it. That is because to even my amazement, the
last time the true story of Peter Pan was done in a live action format was
in 1924 starring the two above mentioned actors that while appearing in over
80 films collectively, we probably wouldn't recognize them if they walked
down the street with name tags on their shirts.

Enter December 2003, and P.J. Hogan's retelling of the classic tale that hit
theatres amongst all the Oscar hopefuls and faded from memory before
recouping even half of its reported $100 million dollar budget. Thank God
for DVD.

To have to spend time telling the true story of Peter Pan would mean that
the reader of the critique was robbed of an incredible children's story
about a fantasy land where kids never grew up and a pirate by the name of
Hook set out on a personal crusade to avenge the hand he lost in an earlier
confrontation with his nemesis, Pan.

This updated version stars a bunch of newbies or character actors that might
seem familiar if unplaced at the time of your viewing. In the role of Peter
Pan is Jeremy Sumpter a young child destined for stardom that first took our
notice as the young Adam in Bill Paxton's Frailty. He, alongside his fairy
friend known to us as Tink', he travels from Neverland to England where he
hovers outside a families window to hear the stories of adventure as told by
the eldest daughter, Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood).

It is not long before the two become acquainted, and Wendy with her two
brothers agree to leave their oppressive parentally controlled world and
follow Peter and Tink back to a land where children run free and never get
old. But pursued to the ruthless Hook and his pirates entourage, there are
lessons to be learned, enemies to be defeated and as is ultimate in any
fairy tale, a happy ending to endure.

One of the first things you will notice while watching Peter Pan is the
incredible production values. Shot in Australia and New Zealand, Universal
Studios spared no expense in bringing the childhood story to life. How
Peter Pan chases his shadow, how the fairies all fly into their tree loft
and the incredibly vibrant colors are all testament to P.J. Hogan's unique
vision of telling story as it was J.M. Barrie almost 80 years earlier. Most
fascinating is how the art of film flying has evolved from the blue screen
laughers almost 80 years earlier. Most fascinating is how the art of film
flying has evolved from the blue screen laughers as seen in the Superman
franchise to its perfected state in Peter Pan. When Pan and Hook
eventually fight amongst the clouds and ships masts in the climax, the
shadows are just perfect, the effects are not hokey and the style allows for
the actors to feel free from the restraints of the conventional wires we
were accustomed to seeing in cheaper adaptations.

Sure, there was a few things that bothered me a little (the repeating 5 note
musical score for one), but I was amazed how transformed I became while
watching a movie that I was embarrassed that I coupled with Kill Bill Vol. 1
with my rental at the video store. A story that I had seen so many times
before in so many formats (plays, animation etc.) was made fresh again by
the highly entertaining energy that the cast all put into their roles.

I will admit that Peter Pan is not for everyone. The cynical will call it
average and those that are still drinking heavily to try and forget Steven
Spielberg's 1991 failed effort Hook, might not be over the nightmares to
enjoy this jaunt.

However, with or without a family by your side, this is one of the forgotten
films of 2003 that deserves a rental and an open mind.

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